The authorities of Georgia have learned a lesson from the criminal action and aim to "return" Abkhazia and South Ossetia in a peaceful way, - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with the Russian media regarding the statement made by Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze on the Independence Day of Georgia relating to the return of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region.

According to him, "the reaction of Sokhumi and Tskhinvali to these statements speaks for itself".

“Abkhazia and South Ossetia made their sovereign choice back in 2008, after Mikheil Saakashvili's regime tried to return one republic to Georgia by force and threatened the other with similar actions. As we understand, the Georgian authorities have learned a lesson from this criminal action and aim to "return" Abkhazia and South Ossetia in a peaceful way. First of all, I mean Georgian "reintegration" programs and initiatives, the most important of which is "A step towards a better future". Abkhazians and Ossetians have repeatedly expressed their negative attitude towards the "undermining" of their sovereign status and the attempt to bring them under the jurisdiction of Georgia, noting that the only "step towards a better future" will be the recognition of the independence of these countries," said Mikhail Galuzin.

According to him, the preconditions for normalization in the "triangle" of Sokhumi-Tbilisi-Tskhinvali will appear after Georgia accepts the existing reality and is ready to establish relations based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests.

"In this regard, it is of the utmost importance to sign legally binding guarantees on the non-use of force between Georgia on the one hand and Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the other hand. Solving the border delimitation issue with further demarcation is also important. All these topics are the subject of discussion within the Geneva international discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus. This format provides a unique opportunity to maintain an equal dialogue and find a common language between the official representatives of Tbilisi, Sokhumi and Tskhinvali through international mediation. We support the intensification of work within the Geneva international discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus. I know that Abkhazians and South Ossetians are ready for this," said the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia.